Exploring the local and regional dimensions of the Renewable Energy Communities’ activation in diverse European institutional contexts

Abstract

Energy transition is a pivotal challenge for urban and regional development across European territories. Integrating this issue into local policy agendas and spatial planning tools is essential to foster effective engagement of public authorities and local communities in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are a key tool in climate policy, enabling citizens, civil society organizations, local authorities, and small and medium-sized enterprises to play an active role in the energy supply system. Within RECs, these actors move from being mere consumers to becoming prosumers, thus contributing to more decentralized and democratic energy systems. However, the successful implementation of RECs requires supportive multilevel governance structures and coherent legal and regulatory frameworks to facilitate their development in diverse national, regional, and local contexts. 

This paper investigates the role of regional and local authorities, stakeholders, and planning tools in the activation process of RECs within European territories. It analyzes the activation process of different REC configurations by reconstructing the multilevel governance frameworks and exploring the interactions between local, regional and national levels. The work focuses on three case studies, Piedmont (Italy), Andalusia (Spain), Geneva (Switzerland), to illustrate the dynamics of REC creation. This study provides a basis for future research focusing on the interrelationship between energy transition processes and territorial governance frameworks. Empirical evidence suggests that integrated governance arrangements are more effective in aligning spatial planning with climate and energy strategies.